1.6 Beta 4 on SDC

from GalCiv2 Forums

change log:

The biggest change in this beta is the optimzation work done on the ships.  You should notice improved framerates and improved loading times (the optimizations also accelerated the creation of ship thumbnails).  We had a save game where the framerate droped to 4 fps when we scrolled over sectors with ships, and with these changes it's now up to 28-34 fps.  Major kudos to Jesse (aka CodeCritter) for all the work that he put into this!  For those of you who like a little more  technical details, Jesse implemented a batching system for the ships, optimized the meshes for speed, and optimized the storage of the scene nodes.  If you want to check out your framerate, CTRL+F toggles the framerate counter on/off.

+ NEW: Added Starbase module to repair the starbase with Tech Requirement Advanced Hulls.  Will only show up if the starbase is missing HP, and can be 'installed' multiple times.  This module should not count towards the total modules.

+ CHANGE:  In the Ship Designer, when using auto-place to place a component, the component will use the current scale and rotation settings

+ TWEAK: You are no longer permitted to change your capital to another world, and bonuses for the capital city have been increased.

+ FIX:  Flushes resource manager’s resources when game exits
+ FIX: Fixed crash in invasion ground units
+ FIX: Fixed crash if memory does not allocate in ResourceGraphic
+ FIX: Fixed crash in ship design code if hardpoint data failed to load
+ FIX: Fixed bug where minimaps were not refreshing immediately when you started a new game
+ FIX: Added code to handle if you or your trading partner are in debt to fix flakiness with the money popup in the TradeWnd. 
+ FIX: Fixed bug in the function that calculates the morale of a colony to fix a longtime bug where your morale could permanently drop to 1%
+ FIX: Made it so that ships on the Governor minimap should show up larger when they are affected by the switch.  Also made starbases not show up on this minimap to reduce clutter.
+ FIX: Fixed typo in XML files that caused land and background textures in Invasion window to be black

UPDATE 5/21/07:  I am linking to a test build meant to address the memory issues, slowdown, and graphical glitches in this beta.  Please backup your existing GC2DarkAvatar.exe and Lib3D.dll files before extracting this zip file into your GalCiv2\DarkAvatar folder.  When making reports from this point forward, please be sure to state which version you are using.

UPDATE 5/22/07: I updated the link with a new test build that fixes the Governor screen lockup and makes the minimap stars bigger on Large and Gigantic galaxies so that they are more visible.

http://sd.stardock.com/carielf/da_1_6_b5_test2.zip



 

61,303 views 215 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the mini-map fixes!
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The ship models in Beta 4 render improperly. Essentially, it appears as though some of the surfaces of the ships are skewed at strange angles. This leads to the appearance of "spikes" of stretched out ship geometry leading off in different directions from the model.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have taken some screen captures of the problem and am emailing them so you can see what I am talking about. (Picture worth a thousand words and all...)
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nice job guys on the performance upgrade. I loaded up my framerate killer saved game which was around 5-8 fps is now 35+ even up to 45 or so in those bad areas.

So the performance gain is indeed working.

Thanks!!!
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

that sounds like artifacting from an overheated graphics card to me.


If that were indeed true, it would have shown up prior to the Beta 4 update, which as stated by Cari, include model optimization. The problem is not my graphics card.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mmmmm,

Is CariElf the official beta person??
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm getting the same graphics issue as Formis. Only seems to effect certain ships. From what I can tell it's only the core designs in my game. All the ones I design render fine.
I run temp and diagnostic tools in a second monitor while playing, so I know it's not a heat issue. I'll catch a screenie and grab the debug to send in.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
poor ol' evil needs help. since 1.62b, i can't update on SDC - can anyone tell me how to go about getting updates - i've done all the xml, server, refresh stuff, but no dice. do i need to reinstall sdc? if so, what do i need to do? i iz dim. be gentle wiv me.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yea, since I saw this, SDC isnt working for me either. ;/
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

If you notice some skewing of the graphics, please send a zipped saved game, debug.err file, and/or screenshot to [email protected].  It is probably due to the changes in the graphics system rather than a heat issue.  It could be certain hulls and/or ship designs that have the problem. Sending in problematic games would help us to narrow it down. 

Formis, if you wouldn't mind.  I have a few questions for you (and anyone else who experiences this problem. )

1. Do these spikes disappear when you alt-tab out of the game and come back?  
2. Do they appear on all ships of the same type or just certain ones.
3. If you save the game, and reload it, do the ships still look distorted?

Thanks in advance.

Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
+ NEW: Added Starbase module to repair the starbase with Tech Requirement Advanced Hulls. Will only show up if the starbase is missing HP, and can be 'installed' multiple times. This module should not count towards the total modules.


WHAT????!!!!

You guys are actually paying attention to starbases now? Maybe nerfed starbases could be a thing in the past. Yay!! (insert sound effect of a bunch of little kids shouting in joy)

Anyhow, I have a few errands to run tommorrow, but after that, I'll test the hell of this new 'module'.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What I see, on a freshly-designed Terran style colony ship, is a single acute triangle the same sky-blueish colour as the interior of the colony module. It's only visible from one direction.

When I make a scout with sensor modules, each sensor pallet creates two hull-coloured acute triangles which are visible in both directions.

Sometimes I'll see the texture for one of the ship's built-in engines in the wrong place too (stretched out, much like the triangles).
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
poor ol' evil needs help. since 1.62b, i can't update on SDC - can anyone tell me how to go about getting updates


I did a manual install when I wasn't asked to update. Try doing that. Open SDC, go to games, expand GalCiv 2, and select each component you wish to update.

Seems to work for me. It shows beta 4 when I'm in the main screen before you start or load a game.

________________
I hope this helps you both: Evil Roy, and geminisama. Same goes to anyone else who has yet to ask...

Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am having trouble updating as well. I wasn't asked to update, but went ahead and tried a manual install. The heightmaps installed fine, but when trying to install the DA update, it downloaded, then 50% through the installation process, I got an error message that said "/English.str 0 l 0 Cannot create a file when that file already exists." Result: Installation failed (29) I closed out SDC, then tried to reboot, and my computer locked up in blackscreen. I did a hard boot, and I'm up and running again, but my heart stopped there for a minute. Any ideas about how to go about downloading the update?

EDIT: OK, I may have fixed the problem. I went into the program, and moved the English.str file to my desktop. I then went to SDC, and downloaded and installed like a charm. My question is now this: Do I need that first copy of that file, or can I go ahead and delete it?
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think we still have some mini-map problems.

1) Bringing up the pick a rally point screen (select T when a ship is selected) doesn't bring up a mini-map at all. I seem to get semi-random junk. The box works fine otherwise.

2) In the governors screen, trying to switch from starport construction to starship rally points freezes my computer (as in I have to hit the reset button). This is repeatable for me and it's new with Beta 4.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Huh, for me the 1.6 beta 4 just doesn't show up on SDC (and yes I have "pre release versions" checked since an eternity) . The latest DA version indicated is 1.59.095 - that's beta 3 - from May 10th .
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Great, starbase repair is in! Now it actually makes sense to build bases and have fast constructors ready for repair, instead of having to rebuild them.

Will the fix for German version weapons-effects be in 1.6?
(Wrong decimal separator)
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sorry, double post.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am having the same problems with the new version in reference to your questions Code Critter

1. Do these spikes disappear when you alt-tab out of the game and come back?
Yes, also when rotating the screen or in ship designer

2. Do they appear on all ships of the same type or just certain ones.
Certain parts like lights or primary colars like engines, also on starbases, they now look like a sea urchin

3. If you save the game, and reload it, do the ships still look distorted?
Yes

I did a driver update and check on both my motherboard and graphic card with no change in the effects. On the plus side thank you for all your other improvements.

If you wish I can send a screen shot and save game (compressed on both) but right now I am using by bandwidth downloading the Height map. Kudo's to all your work on both the Heightmap and update.

Update: Just sent off save game and JPEG it effects both my ship designs and core ships



Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I was having an issue last night where the heightmaps map would complete downloading and then start again instead of installing. I let it run over night and they are still going, anyone else seen this?
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Will the fix for German version weapons-effects be in 1.6?


It's DL that lacks the binary weapon effect models, not DA, so that'll probably require a separate DL update.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I was having an issue last night where the heightmaps map would complete downloading and then start again instead of installing. I let it run over night and they are still going, anyone else seen this?


If you have an antivirus or firewall on, try temporarily disabling them.
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Is CariElf the official beta person??

I'm the lead developer of the GalCiv series.    So yes, I am in charge of putting together the beta and the change log and stuff like that. 

poor ol' evil needs help. since 1.62b, i can't update on SDC - can anyone tell me how to go about getting updates - i've done all the xml, server, refresh stuff, but no dice. do i need to reinstall sdc? if so, what do i need to do? i iz dim. be gentle wiv me.

Re-installing SDC may well help.  Uninstall it from Control Panel first, then go make sure that everything except your backup folder in the Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral folder was deleted.  You may also want to use Windows Explorer to make sure that everything was removed.  The default install location for Stardock Central is Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral.  Download the installer from https://www.stardock.com/products/sdcentral and re-install.  If you have any problems un-installing and re-installing, please contact [email protected]

1) Bringing up the pick a rally point screen (select T when a ship is selected) doesn't bring up a mini-map at all. I seem to get semi-random junk. The box works fine otherwise.

That should be easy enough to fix.  I thought I got all the minimaps but I did miss that one.

2) In the governors screen, trying to switch from starport construction to starship rally points freezes my computer (as in I have to hit the reset button). This is repeatable for me and it's new with Beta 4.

Hmm, I'll see if I can reproduce this. It didn't happen for me in debug. Did you try hitting Alt+F4?

Will the fix for German version weapons-effects be in 1.6?

We didn't put them up yesterday because IT was worried that it would cause problems (I don't remember with what) but I'm hoping to get them up today.

Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

If you notice some skewing of the graphics, please send a zipped saved game, debug.err file, and/or screenshot to [email protected].  It is probably due to the changes in the graphics system rather than a heat issue.  It could be certain hulls and/or ship designs that have the problem. Sending in problematic games would help us to narrow it down. 


Formis, if you wouldn't mind.  I have a few questions for you (and anyone else who experiences this problem. )


1. Do these spikes disappear when you alt-tab out of the game and come back?  
2. Do they appear on all ships of the same type or just certain ones.
3. If you save the game, and reload it, do the ships still look distorted?


Thanks in advance.




I sent a zipped packet of screen shots to gc2bugs when I first found this problem (the internal reference number is 37726). I will send some better screen shots and the debug and save game files later today. In reference to your questions:

1. Alt-Tabbing does not get rid of the "spikes."

2. The spikes appear on all ships of the same type. After having looked at the issue better, it appears that the spikes only affect certain ship/part meshes. Not all meshes suffer from the spikes. It seems to be the case that when a mesh does suffer from the distortion, that the distortion always appears in the same manner for the mesh (i.e. it is the same vertices of the mesh that are pulled out of place, and always with the same mispositioning). I am actually going to take some time later today and make up a complete list of the meshes that are affected, if this would help you. If this list would be helpful, where do you want me to email it?

3. I will try a save and reload and let you know.